Belcar teams use 'international free practice day' to shake down cars

As usual the teams made use of the international free practice days at Circuit Zolder to prepare for the 24 Hours of Zolder. Thursday 16 August is the second to last possibility for the teams to give the new drivers a chance to familiarise with the car and the track. Laudi Racing used the test day to give Patric Derdaele some track time with the team's Dodge Viper Competition Coupé.

Jo Jamers' First Motorsport was present with three cars in Zolder. During the 24 Hours of Zolder, the team from Limburg will enter two Porsches 996 GT3 Cup in Division 2, and one Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in Division 1. Pino Sperlinga and his GPR team also attended the test day. Marc Duez and Ruben Maes took the wheel of the #55 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup. G-Force Racing was present with its Porsche 997 GT3 Cup. More Porsche-power at the McDonald's Racing Team, where Jean-Claude Voets tested the team's Porsche 996 Biturbo.

From the American point of view we saw the Daikin-girls Alexandra van de Velde and Stefanie Boden on track. The girls worked on the set-up of the Dodge Viper Competition Coupé. The team has still not announced a third and a fourth (female) driver. Furthermore we also saw the A+ Racing Viper, with Tom van de Plas.

The Genk-based MSE team took its Porsche to the track for a shakedown. A number of potential drivers tested the car, a.o. Kurt Raes. MSE-regulars Bart van Samang and Paul Grutman were also lapping extra miles. Last but not least we also spotted the AD Sport Viper on track. Koen Wauters was taxing guests around.

During the weekend of the Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix a number of Belcar cars will be racing for the major honours in the ADAC GT3 Masters. Among others we'll see Racing for Belgium and Daikin Racing Team in the German GT3 Championship. The last possibility for the Belcar teams to test in Zolder will be the international free practice day on Thursday 30 August.

VZW 24u.be - Mark Kessen on Thursday 16 August 2007 at 18:50.